Knitting machine



.De- 18, 1934- RoBAczYNsKl 1,984,991

KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 18, 1934. A' RCBACZYNSKl A 1,984,991

KNITTING MACHINE File@ April l2, 1932 y `5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Invntor 5 Sheets-.Sheet 3 I,

Dec. 18, 1934. L.. RoBAczYNsKl KNITTING MACHINE l Filed April 12, 1932 LHD/JQasfoAczy/vJ/m By; 769%? i i, l .llprneys Dec. 18, 1934. 1 RoBAczYNsKl K'NITTING MACHINE Filed April l2, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIA ttomey D ec. 18, 19345. L. RoBAczYNsKl KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 12. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 nvenlor llormzy.)

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.incassi c stares I `sniffstir; tossica,

marine Massima. Ladisians -Etobaczynsh Brooklyn, N. Y. 'lamination apra 12, i932, semi No. coasts 27 ciaims.

This invention relates to knitting machines and more particularly to knitting machines of the v type commonly known' in the `art' as a't knitting machines. i

One object of the present invention is to improve the construction and operation of knitting machines and to provide such machines with mechanism which will eiect a betterknitting operation than prior machines.

Knitting machines known in the art as flat machines generally include two fiat racks or necdle plates'andat intervals during the knitting operation, the needles are selectively transferred' from one to the other of these racks or plates in order that different designs or patterns may bey produced.

Such machines are also capable of operationto produce the so-called rack stitch whichin .the knitting ofV certain fabrics becomes highly desirable 'in certain locations or portions in the fabric produced by the machine and this invention has particularly to do with the mechanism by which this rack stitch is produced.

- In machines of theprior art, for example, the machine illustrated inV my prior Patent No. 1,185,244, of May 30, 1916,v this "rack stitch" is produced by moving one of the needle racks or plates longitudinally a distance equal to two needles with respect to the other rack or plate, certain mechanism being employed to effect such an operation and to determine the periods at which the operationtakes place. P

In certain other machines of this type, as for example, the machine illustrated in 'my prior Patent No. 1,468,513, of September 18, 1923, one on the needle racks -or plates is moved transversely or in a directionfat substantially right angles'to that ofthe racking movement in order 'to open the racks or plates to insure clearance of the needles during the racking operation and the device of the present invention is adapted to machines l which Vemploy this feature.

Insofar as I am aware, it has been the practice f machines of the prior art to impart rackingj movement to one of the needle racks or plates sufciently to move it a. distance of but two needles and it is a featureof this vinvention to'provide a new and novel mechanism whereby one ofv the needle racks or .plates may be moved yselectively during a racking operation, a distance equal to four or even more needles.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in a novel mechanism whereby the distance to which a needle rack or plate is to b e m'ved durjmined.

ing a racking operatign may be selectively deter-` Still a further feature ofthe invention residesjin the provision of a. novel mechanism whereby the racking movement imparted to a needle rack or plate may be either c the Isame magnitude, 'or may be of dierent magnitudes eected alternately or in' any desired sequence.

Certain other features of the invention relate to novel-,mechanisms whereby the lseveral operations of which the improved machine is capable,may be automatically eected and to certain novel constructions whereby adjustments for the purpose of predetermining the nature of the automatic operations, may be made with ease and'fa'cility. y 1

Still other features of the invention relate to certain novel and imprfoved constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described land particularly pointed outin the claims, the advantages of which will be readily understood and appreciated` by those f skilled in the art.

The invention will be clearly` understood from l the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view takenon the line 4-4` of Figure f3""and illustrating certain parts of the racking mechanism in one position,

L Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing -the same parts of theY rack mechanism in another position, i

Figure 6 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of -Figure 3, f

Figure I is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-1 of Figure 3, 1

.Figure 8l is a 'detail perspective view of ome of theA elements'of a locking mechanism, Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of another element of the locking mechanism,

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of still another element of the locking mechanism,

vation illustrating the Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of vone of the elements of the racking mechanism,

Figure 12 is I of the driving gears of the anism,

Figure-13 is an inverted perspective view of another element of the rackin'g mechanism,-

Figure 14 is-a fragmentary view inside elelock Operating mechanism inits inoperative position, and;

,Figure 15 is a View similar to Figure 14, illustrating said mechanism in its operative position.

One practical embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Figure 1, of which, the reference character A lock operating mechdesignates a knitting machine frame which is *Y needle racks or plates are in said figure. also conventionally Aillustrated, the forward rack or plate being desig-V nated B,'the rear rack or platel being desigconventionally illustrated nated C.

tion, the racking operation 1s longitudinally,

In vthe illustrated embodiment of the invenobtained by moving the forwardA needle rack or plate B and this` movement is eiected by an operating bar connectedl at one end to theneedlel rack or plate B and operatively connected at its oppo`- site end with a suitable mechanism generally designated D, r`for eiecting reciprocating move ment of the forward needle rack or plate.

In the present embodiment ofthe invention, the mechanism D includes two excentrics 21 and 22 and as best illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the excentric 21 is mounted upon the upper extremity of a vertically disposed shaft 23. The excentric 22 is herein illustrated as an excentric collar mounted upon theexcentric 21: of the shaft'23: This excentric 22 is mounted for rotation in rectangular block-like .member 24 which is mounted beneath the operating bar 20 as bestillustrated in Figure 3. Two` stops 25 and 26 are adjustably mounted upone the operating tively which fastenings are herein illustrated as cap screws. These fastening's are mounted in slots 29 and 30 respectively, in the operating bar 20 and these slots permit of movement of the fastenings 27 and 28, thereby, to provide for adjustment of the stops 25 and 26 relatively to the operating bar 20. d a

As best illustrated in Figure 11, the excentric 21 has a hub portion 32 and a relatively flat preferably circular base 33. The hub portion-32 is lprovided on its side with a flat face 34 having internally threaded openings 35 therein.y The base 33 is notched at diametrically oppositepoints as at 36 and it is also provided `at diametrically opj d posite points with slots 37.

I The frame A is formed with a seat 38 and rotatably mounted on` said seat there is a disk like member 39 having a depending hub extension 40` for the reception of the upper end of the shaft 23. The member 39 is suitablyattached( to the shaft 23 so that as the latter is rotated, the member 39 will be rotated upon its seat 38 it being retained in position upon said seat by means of suitable retaining plates 41 see particularly Figures 3 and 6. A

As best illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, the excentric 21 is secured to the disk-like member 39 by suitable fastenings vherein illustrated as cap screws 45 of which there are two, there being one passing through each of the slots 37. These fastenings have threaded engagement with internally threaded recesses 46 in the disk like a detail perspective view of onel The.

.member 39. By reason of the slots 37 the excentric' 2 1 may be adjusted relatively to the shaft 23 and the extent. of reciprocating movement imparted thereby to the operating bar and consequentlythe extent of racking movement transmitted to the movable needle rack or plate, may be adjusted.

As thus far described, it will be obvious that as the shaft 23 is rotated, the excentric 2l will likewise be rotated and will, by reason of the block like member 24 and the stops 25 and 26, impart a reciprocating movement to the operating bar 20 .to impart the racking movementv to the forward needle rack or plate B.

Suitable means is employed to drive the shaft 23 and for this purpose two gears 50 and 51 are provided. The gear 50 is keyed to the shaft 23 while the gear 51 is keyed to av shaft 52 suitably supported in the machine frame. The upper end of the shaft 52 is extended as at .53 and carries upon this extension a toothed ratchet wheel 54 which is also keyed to the shaft 53.

lThe ratchet wheel 54 is operatedby means of a reciprocating pawl 55 mounted upon a reciprocating bar 57 by means of a bracket 56. Thus, each reciprocatin of the bar 57 causes the pawl 55 to engage the toothed ratchet wheel to impart a step by step movement thereto which is transmitted to the shaft 53.- The ratio f the gears 50 and 51 is such that each operation of the gear 51 by the pawl 55 and the toothed ratchet wheel 54 will cause a. one half revolution of the gear 50 and the excentric 21 which medium vof the operating bar 20, impart the'racking movement to the forward needle rack or plate B as heretofore described. l

Foreffecting reciprocation of the bar 57, I provide a pushing pawl or dog 58 pivotally mounted as at 59 .to one end of a rocking lever 60 which in turn is pivotally mounted between its ends upon ing pawl or dog engages a block 60 adjustable upon the bar 57, when operation of the bar 57 is desired. The other end 62 of this rocking lever 60 is provided with a roller 63 which operates in the cam groove 64` of a cam 65 carried b'y a shaft ,K

66 which is continuously driven during operation offthe machine. f

Since the rack stitch is desired only. at certain intervals during the knitting operation some means must be provided to render the pushing or dog ineffective except at such times as the rack stitch is desired. o For this purpose, in

the present embodiment of the invention, thev pushing lpawl or dog 58 is maintained elevated suiiiciently that, in its movements, it will not engage the block 60. The pushing pawl or dog is maintained elevated by a lever 67 pivotally mounted as at 68 and having its free end 69 disposed beneath a lug 70 extending from the lever pushing pawl, or dog 58. l

- The lever 67 is maintained in pawl ordog holding position by a link 71 pivotally connected as at 72`to the-lever 67 and as at 73 to a crank arm 74 operatively connected vto a shaft 75. By this construction, the shaft 75 when rocked in one direction will, through the medium of the crank 74 and the link 71, elevate the lever 67 and the free end of the pushing` pawl or dog 58 suiiiciently to per.- mit it to clear the block 60. When the shaft 75 is rocked in the opposite direction, the lever 67 a shaft or other suitable support 61. lThis push? will in turn, through the will be lowered and will lower the pushing pawl d The normal position of the several parts just described in that shown in Figure 1 of the drawings in which the pushing pawl or dog 58 is maintained in elevated position.4 When it is desired to produce the rack stitch, the pushing pawl or dog 58 is lowered and this is accomplished as heretofore stated, by rocking the shaft 75. This rocking of the shaft 75 is accomplished at proper intervals, predetermined by means of a pattern chain 76 illustrated in Figure 1. This pattern chain 76 passes over a sprocket wheel 77 suitably driven from the main driving means of the machine and it has low links 78 which when they pass beneath one arm 79 of a bell crank lever 80 will permit the end arm 79 thereof to rock downwardly, and through the medium of a link 8l connected as at 82 to the other arm 83 of the bell crank lever and to a crank arm 84 carried by the shaft 75, will effect a, rocking of the shaft 75 in the proper direction by pulling thereon to lower the pushing pawl or dog 58.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that each time alow link 78 passes beneath the arm 79 of the bell crank lever 80, the pushing pawl 58 will be lowered to engage the block 60 and eiect a racking movement of the front needle rack or plate B in the manner heretofore described:

As heretofore stated, the reciprocating bar 57 is moved forwardly by the pushing pawl or dogy 58. Return movement, or movement in the opposite direction is imparted to the reciprocating bar 57 by means of a link 85 pivotally connected as at 86 to the upper end of the rocking lever 60. The opposite end of this link has an elongated slot 87 and adapted for operation in said slot and carried by the reciprocating bar 57, there is a pin or the like 88. This slot 87 is of such length that during such time as the pushing pawl .or

dog is elevated the link 85 is free to move relatively to the bar 57 and without imparting any movement thereto. 'An adjusting bolt or screw is threaded into the forward end of the link 85 and the free end thereof extends into the slot 87. By adjustment of this bolt or screw 89, the beginning of the return stroke of the reciprocating bar 57 may be determined, since it is the engagement of the free end of this adjustable bolt or screw with the pin 88 when the link 85 moves to the right in Figure 1, which returns the reciprocating bar 57 after it has been moved tothe left in said gure by the pushing pawl or dog 58.

Thus far, I have described the invention as operating to produce a racking movement of the needle rack or plate B, only by the excentric 21,

and in the general construction and operation of the machine, the extent of this racking movement will beequal to two needles although it will be obvious that by adjustment of the excentric 21 upon the disk like member 39, which adjustment is provided for by elongated slots 37 and the fastenings 45, the extent of racking movement imparted to the needle rack or plate B may be either reduced or increased within of course, certain limitations.

In knitting certaintypes of fabrics, it is desirableto impart differentk degrees of racking movement at different intervals during the knitting operation. For example, it may be desirable to impart to the needle rack or plate B, a racking movement equal to two needles at one period of the knitting operation and a racking movement familiar, are not capable of functioning to prol duce this result without stopping the machine and replacing the excentric which operates to impart the racking movement to the needle rack or plate with an excentric by which the desired racking movement may be obtained. y f

Not only will the machine of the present invention operate to produce racking movements of diiferent lengths or magnitude, but it will accomplish this result in an automatic manner as Will be hereinafter specifically described.

'I'he eccentric 22 heretofore mentioned is capable of imparting a greater degree of racking movement to the needle rack or plate B than is given thereto by the excentric 21, and for the sake of illustration only I -will assumethat the excentric 21 imparts a racking movement to the needle rack or plate B, equal to two needles, although itextent of racking movement to be imparted `to the' needle rack or plate is equal to two needles.`

The excentric 22 is larger than the excentric 21 and the racking movement produced by this ex'- centric 22 is greater than that produced by the excentric 21. This excentric 22 may producer a racking movement of the needle rack or plate B equal to four, or even more needles if desired. l To effect operation of the needle rack or plate B by the excentric 22, said excentric is locked to, and rotates with the excentric 21 when the shaft 23 is rotated and I will now describe the construction by which this operation is effected. A

Secured to theat face 34 heretofore mentioned by screwsor the like 90, there is a block 91 which block is notched as at 92. By reference to Figure 13 it will be noted that the excentric 22 is provided with a dove tail passage w'ay 94 and that the block-like member 24 is similarly grooved as at 95. The stop 25 heretofore men'- tioned is in the form of a plate and as best illustrated in Figure 7, this plate is formed with a dove tail passage way 96.

Slidably mounted in the dovetail passages 94 and 95, there is a key 97 having a head 98 which is dovetail in cross-sectional form. Depending from the body portion of this key there is a lug 99 which is adapted to be received in a passage way 100 of an operating member 101. 'I'his passageway 100 is of arcuate form and has its ends 25 by bolts 106 and mounted upon the bottom wall of said channel shaped membernthere is a gear 107 which has a depending concentric stub shaft 108 projecting through the bottom wall of said channel member and upon its upper face,

said Agear has a hub portion 109 which is received in an opening in a plate 110. The concentric stub shaft 108 and the plate 110 serve Ato position the gear 107 and maintain it in its opera.- tive position in the member 105. Extending tioned therein and As best illustrated in the main body portion'of from the upper is an excentrically disposed stub shaft 111 and this stub shaft 111 occupiesI a position in the elongated slot 104 of the operating member 101.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that yas the gear 107 lis rotated, the operating member y101 will be reciprocated in thestop 25 by reason of the engagement of the excentric stub-shaft 111 inthe slot 104 thereof.

\ The lug 99 operates through the arcuate passage in suchA a manner that when it is posithe operating member 101 is reciprocated, the key will likewise be reciprocated to move it either to or from the position in which it locks the excentrics 21 and 22 together.

Figure 3 of the drawings, thekey 97 is adapted to be received in the notch 92 of' the block 93 and the head 98 thereof is received in the dove tail slot 94.' of the excentric 22 when the excentrics 21 and 22 are locked together and when in this position,

the lug 99- is free to pass out of the passage 100 when the excentrics are rotated as heretofore dcscribed.-

- Thus it will be apparent that as the gear 107 is rotated, the operating member 101 will be reciprocated to either lock the excentrics.21 and 22 together to operate the needle rack or plate by the excentric 22, or to unlock the excentrics' so that the needle rack or plate will be operated by the excentrie 21, as the case may be.

The gear 107 is operated by a gear 120 mounted between the bottom wall of the closing plate and the stop 25, said gear having a hub portion 121 mounted in the plate 110 and a stub shaft extension 122 mounted in the stop 25. Carried by this gear and located therebeneath, there is a toothed ratchet wheel 125 and adapted for engagement with the teeth vofthis toothed ratchet wheel to operate the gear 120 there is a pivoted pawl 126 pivotally mounted as at 127 upon a bracket 128 carried byan operating bar 129. The pivoted pawl 126 isy 130 by means of a spring 131, but said pawl is free to move away from said stop against the influence of said spring 131. A holding pawl 132 may bepivotally mounted as at 133 ,and held in enlmi Ltent which will produce one gagement with the ratchet wheel 125 to prevent reverse movement thereof as illustrated in FigureI 2.

l These several parts bear such a relation to each other in the illustrated embodiment of the invention that upon each reciprocation of the operating bar 129, the ratchet wheel 125 will be nioved one tooth,driving the gear 120 to an exhalf a revolution of the gear 107 and one cycle of movement of the operating member 101,.

The operating bar 129 is reciprocated, by a pushing pawl or dog which engages a block carriedby said bar, said pawl or dog being pivotally .connected as at 141 to the upper end of a rocking lever 142, the lower end of which is provided with a roller 143 which operates in the camvgroove 64 of the cam 65. Y

As in the case of the pushing pawl or dog 58, this pushing pawl or dog 140 is held elevated to a yposition where it normally does not engage said block v150. -This is accomplished by a supporting lever 149,` pivotally'connect'ed as at 148 to 'a link 147 which in turn is pivotally connected to a crankl 146 mounted on the shaftl I5 heretofore mentioned. The free end of this supporting lever 149 engages beneath a hook 151 projecting v156 which receives a maintained, against a stop ymay be driven ina of this type but not herein illustrated and mayv 1,984,991 face of the hub portion 109 there' Pivotally connected to the upper end of the rocking lever 142 there is a link 155, the forward end of which is provided with an elongated slot pin 157 carried by the block 150 on the operating bar., This link serves to return the operating bar 129 to its normal or startby a coil spring 156' conat 157' to the bar 129 and aided in its operation nected at one end as at the other end as at the bar 129 slides. A screw 160 is threaded into the end of the link and-the inner end of this screw is positioned in the slot 156. Adjustment of the screw determines the time at -which the screw engages the pin 157 and consequent operation of the bar 129 through the medium of said screw.

The cam 65 is of such construction that the levers 60 and 142 move in the same direction as the cam is rotated. 'Ihat is to say, that the upper ends of both of these levers move forward, or toward the left in Figure 1 at the same time which is also true when the upper ends of these levers move in a rearward direction or to the right in Figure 1. The lever 142, however, moves 158 to a guide 159 in which' ing position after an operation thereof and it is twice to each movement of the lever 60, and this is accomplished by cutting away of a portion of the cam groove of the-cam 65 as at 65', land each time this portion vof the cam groove passes the roller 63, it passes clear thereof and does notv effect an operation ofthe lever 60. Thus each rotation of the .cam 65 produces two 'rocking movements of the lever 142, and only one rocking movement of the lever 60. This movement of the rocking levers 60 and 142, however, performs no function so long as the pushing pawls or dogs 58 and 140 are maintainedI in their elevated positions. When, however, these pushing pawls or dogs are lowered, either the 'racking mechanism or the locking mechanism of the two excentrics will immediately begin to function in a manner which will now be described.

.As heretofore explained, the pushing pawl or dogs 58 and 140 are raised and lowered by a system of levers, the operation of which is controlled by the low links 78 of the chain 76 as it passes over the sprocket 77 and beneath the arm 79 of the bell. crank lever 80. The` chain 76 manner common to machines be continuous or intermittent depending upon the type of fabric being produced by the machine. -By yreference to Figure 1,.it will be noted that the pushing pawls or {dogs 58 and 140 are both in elevated position, and the. leg 79 of the bell crank lever 80.is resting upon a high link of the chain 76 with a low link 78 just about to pass beneath the arm.79 of the bell crank lever 80.

lAs'. the chain progresses and the low link passes beneath the arm 79 of the bell crank lever 80, the same will be rocked and through the medium of the system or leverage heretofore described, the pushing pawls or dogs 58 and 140 will be lowered. If the timing of the lowering of the pushing pawls or dogs v58 and 140 is such that it takes place at the time the upper end of the rocking lever 60 is moving forward, a racking operation bythe excentric 21 will result assuming that the excentrics 21 and. 22 are not locked together. Racking of the needle rack or plate B moves the ratchet wheel 125 which is carried by the operating bar 20 to the left so that, as the pushing pawl 126 comes forward it will only rock about its pivotal point 127 without' effecting an operation of the ratchet wheel 125.,-

, the present invention If, however, the pushing pawls or dogs 58 and 140 are lowered at a time when the upper end of the rocking lever 142 is moving forward or to the left in Figure 1, and while the portion 65' of the cam groove of the cam 65 is passing the roller 63 of the lever 60 so that it will not be rocked, the locking mechanism of the excentrics 21 and 22 will be operated either to lock them together if unlocked as just mentioned and cause a greater racking movement of the needle rack or plate B under the operation of the excentric 22 as the upper end of the rocking lever,60 again moves forward or to the left in Figure 1, or to unlock the excentrics 21 and 22 if locked so that the next racking operation of the needle rack or plate as the upper end of the lever moves forward, will be the one of lesser magnitude. It will thus be apparent that the racking operation and the extent to which it is carried out may be definitely determined by the timed relation between the high and low links of the chain 76 and the operation of the cam 65.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that provides a new and novel knitting machine in which racking movements of different magnitude may be imparted. to a needle rack or plate and further, the different degrees of racking movement may be obtained automatically in any desired sequence.

In addition to the foregoing,I by adjustment of the excentric 21 in the manner heretofore described, the machine may be caused to operate upon anyone of different degrees of racking movement under the iniluence of the excentric 21, the excentric 22 being entirely eliminated. Of course, under such conditions of operation as just mentioned, the changing oi the magnitude of racking movement is accomplished by manual adjustment in each instance, and is not automatic.

While the invention'has been herein illustrated a preferred form, it is to be understood that it not limited to the specific construction and operation herein illustrated and that it is capable of accomplishment in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Y

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a knitting machine, a pair of needle beds, means for racking one of said needle beds relative to the other needle bed, a plurality of excentrics of different degree of throw for imparting differvent degrees of racking movement to said movable needle bed, and means trics singly operative.

2. In a knitting machine, a pair of needle beds,

for rending said excenmeans for racking one of said needle beds relaracking means including a plurality of excenand means for selectively ,operating said needle bed by said excentrics.

4.'In a knitting machine, in combination, a

needle bed and a racking mechanism therefor,-

said racking mechanism including a plurality of normally inoperative excentrics, an operating mechanism therefor, and means for selectively operating said excentrics by said operating mechanism. l

5. In a knitting` machine, in combination, a needle bed comprising a pair of bed plates and means for moving one of said bed plates relative to the other bed plate, said means including a plurality of normally inoperative excentrics,

means for voperating said excentrics at predetermined intervals, and means for -selectively rendering said excentrics operative.

6. In a knitting machine, a plurality of needle racks or plates, a plurality of excentrics for moving longitudinally one of said needle racks or plates thereby to produce a rack stitch, said excentrics imparting diiferent degrees of movement to said movable rack or plate, and means for rendering said excentric-s alternately operative.

'7. In a knitting machine, a plurality of needle racks or plates, a plurality of excentrics for moving longitudinally one of `said racks or plates thereby to produce a rack stitch, means for operating one of said excentrics independently of the other excentric to impartone degree of movement to said movable rack or bed, and means for locking the other excentric to said first mentioned excentric thereby to operate the movable rack or plate through a different degree of racking movement. I

8. In a knittingv machine, a pair of needle racks or plates, one of which is movably mounted with respect to the other, and operating bar extending from said movable needle rack or plate, a plurality of excentrics for imparting different degrees of Aracking movement to said movable rack or plate, operating means for /sald excentrics, and means for selectively operating said operating bar from said excentrics.

9. In a knitting machine, a pair of needle racks or plates, one of which is movably mounted with respect to the other, an operating bar extending from said movable needle rack or plate', a plurality of excentrics for imparting different degrees of racking movement to said movable rack or plate, operating means for said excentrics, and means for selectively operating said operating bar from said excentrics, said means including a locking mechanism for selectively connecting the excentrics to said operating bar.

10. In a knitting machine, a pair of needle racks or plates, one of which is movably mounted with respect to the other, an operating bar extending from said movable needle rack or plate, a plurality of eccentrics for imparting diiierent degrees of racking movement to said movable rack or plate, operating means for said excentrics, and means for selectively operating said' operating bar from said excentrics, said meansy including a locking mechanismpfor selectively connecting the eccentries to said operating bar, and means for automatically operating said locking mechanism.

11,'In a mechanism of the class described, a plurality of excentrics for providing racking movementsl of diiferent magnitude, means for singly operating said excentrics, means for selectively operating said excentrics, operating means for said excentrics selecting means and a single means fo'r operating said excentric operating means and said selective operating means.

12. In a mechanism of the class described, a plurality of' excentrics for providing racking movements of dierent magnitude, means for singly operating said excentrics, means for 4selectively operating said excentrics, operating means for said excentrics selecting means and a single means for operating. said excentric operating means and said selective operating means, said f last mentioned means comprising a continuously operating cam.

13. In a knitting machine', a racking needle rack or plate, means for reciprocating said racking plate and including a ratchet wheel, and means ,for operating said plate reciprocating means and comprising a pawl normally at rest for operating 'said ratchet wheel, means for operating said pawl, and continuously operating means for intermittently operating said pawl operating means.

14. In a knitting machine, a racking needle rack or plate, means for reciprocating said racking plate and including a ratchet wheel, and means for operating s'aid plate reciprocating means and cornprising a pawl normally at rest for-operating said ratchet y wheel,. means for operating said pawl, continuously operating means for intermittently operating said pawl operating means, and means yfor determining the periodicity of operation of v said pawl operating means.

15. In a knitting machine, a racking needle plate, a plurality oi.' excentrics for moving said racking needle plate through different degrees of racking movement, a single ratchet mechanism for operating said excentrics, means for operating said ratchet mechanism, and means for selectively rendering said excentrics responsive to the action of saidratchet mechanism. y

16. In a knitting` machine, a racking needle plate, a plurality of excentrics for moving said racking needle plate through differentdegrees of racking movement, a single ratchet mechanism for operating said excentrics, means for operating said ratchet mechanism, and means for selectively rendering said excentrics responsive to the action of said ratchet mechanism, said last mentioned means including a locking means r'or locking said excentrics together to cause them to operate as a` single excentric. I

17. In a mechanism of the class described, two excentrics of diierent degrees of throw and arranged one within the other, means operated by said excentrics, means for operating one of said ,excentrics to impart one degree of movement to the means operated thereby andmeans for locking said excentrics together whereby they are both operated by said excentric operating means to part a different degree of movement to the mechanism operated by said excentrics.

18. In a mechanism of the class described, a

^ racking needle plate and means for imparting different degrees of racking movement to said racking needle plate, said means including a shaft, an excentric upon the end of said shaft, a second excentric embracing said first mentioned excentric, said second mentioned excentric being operatively connected to the racking needle plate,

means for driving said shaft to impart one degree of racking movement to said racking needle plate through the medium of said rst mentioned excentric, and means for locking said second mentioned excentric to the Afirst mentioned excentric to impart a vgreater degree of racking movement to said racking plate.

19. In a mechanism of the class `described, a racking needle plate and means for imparting dierent degrees of racking movement to said racking needle plate, saidmeans including a shaft, a'n excentric upon the endof said shaft,

a second excentric embracing' said rst mentioned excentric, said 'second mentioned excentric being operatively connected to the racking needle plate, means for driving said shaft to impart one degree of racking movement to said racking n'eedle plate through the medium 0I Said rst the ilrst mentioned excentric and the rackingy needle plate when the latter is racked by the rst mentioned excentric, and means for operatively connecting said excentrics together to eiect a racking of said racking needle plate by s aid second mentioned excentric.

21. In a link and link knitting machine, a

racking needle plate and means for imparting diierent degrees of racking movement to said racking needle plate, said means including an excentric, a driving means therefor, a second excentric surrounding said rst mentioned excentric and forming the connecting means between the first mentioned excentric and the racking needle plate when the latter is racked by the iirst mentionedexcentric, and means for locking said second mentioned excentric to the iirst mentioned excentric to effect a rotation of the second mentioned excentric to mo`ve the racking needle platethrough-a different degree of racking movement.

22. In a machine of the class described a racking needle plate and means for moving said rackf ing needle plate through more than one. degree of racking movement said means comprising a plurality of excentrics, a continuously operating driving mechanism means for intermittently operating one of said excentrics by said racking needle -plate and means for operatively locking said other excentric to said driven excentric to impart a greater degree of racking movement to said racking needle plate.

23.` Ina machine of the class described a racking needle plate and means for moving said racking needle plate through more than one degree of racking movement said means comprising a plurality of excentrics, a continuously operating driving mechanism means for intermittently operating one of said excentrics by said continuously operatingdriving mechanism to impart racking movement to said racking needle plate and means for operatively locking said other excentric to said driven excentric to impart a greater degree of racking movement to said racking needle plate, said last mentioned means being operated by said continuously operating driving mechanism.

24. In a machine of the class described a racking needle plate and means for moving said racking needle plate through more than one degree, of

racking movementsaid means comprising a plu- 25. In a racking mechanism for knitting machines, a racking needle plate, a'continuously 'operating driving mechanism, an excentric for imparting one degree of racking movement 'to said racking needle plate when operatively connected to said driving mechanism, lmeans for operatively connecting said excentric to said driving mechanism, a second excentric for imparting a greater degree of racking movement to said racking needle plate and means for operatively connecting said second mentioned excentric to said driving mechanism.

26. In a racking mechanism for knitting machines, a racking needle plate, a continuously operating driving mechanism, an excentric for imparting one degree of racking movement to said racking needle plate when operatively connected to said driving mechanism, means for operatively connecting said excentric to said driving mechanism,` a second excentric for imparting a greaterdegree of racking movement to said racking needle plate and means for operatively connecting said second mentioned excentric to said driving mechanism, said last mentioned means including the rst mentioned excentric.

27. In a-racking mechanism for-knitting machines, a racking needle plate, a continuously operating driving mechanism, an excentric for imparting one degree of racking movement to said racking needle plate when operatively connected to said driving mechanism, means for operatively connecting said excentric to said driving mechanism, a second excentric for imparting a greater degree of racking movement to said racking needle plate and means for operatively connecting said second mentioned excentric yto said driving mechanism, said last mentioned means including means operated by said driving mechanism for locking said excentrics together to form ina effect a single excentric.

LADISLAUS ROBACZYNSKI. 

